Encounter

The motorcycle sped along the dry dirt road, kicking up a long, serpentine trail of yellow dust in its wake. Thanks to the protective glass canopy, Roland wasn't left in a disheveled state, though he still looked quite travel-worn.

After a day of sightseeing and travel, Roland entered a vast, flat plain.

The area was sparsely populated and desolate.

In these wilderness stretches between cities, police jurisdiction was weak, making them breeding grounds for petty thieves and scoundrels. These people lacked real skill and only preyed on passing merchants. Conversely, the bustling main roads were safer, as merchant caravans were usually well-prepared, making actual robberies rarer.

Throughout his ride, Roland had encountered several such highwaymen. The outcome, of course, went without saying: they failed to steal anything and were instead looted by him in return.

Hmph, mere mortals are no match for me.

With the world outside so dangerous, it was a wonder how Bulma managed to wander around alone in the original story without ever running into trouble.

As he drew closer to Mount Paozu, the scenery gradually turned lush, and rolling hills became a common sight.

The sky began to darken as evening approached.

Roland parked his motorcycle by the roadside, dismounted, and transformed into a streak of white light, heading into the distant mountains. He soon returned, dragging a massive beast behind him.

He tossed out a Hoi-Poi Capsule to retrieve his cooking utensils and prepared the beast on the spot. Saiyans had excellent appetites; as long as it was living, he could remove the organs and harmful parts and eat the rest.

After enjoying a hearty meal, Roland saw that it was late and decided not to continue his journey. "I'll reach the vicinity of Mount Paozu in a few more days. I'll rest here for today."

With that thought, Roland condensed a ball of energy in his hand and swept it across the ground to clear a flat space.

He clapped his hands together and looked at the leveled ground with satisfaction. His control over energy blasts had become much more precise lately. He brought out his two-story house, placed it on the flat ground, and turned on the electric water heater.

It took a while for the water to heat up, so Roland went outside to practice his martial arts. He threw punches and kicks with vigor, lunging and leaping, his sweat coalescing into crystalline droplets that dripped to the ground.

Cultivation was a matter of persistence; even the slightest slack would lead to a regression in strength. If that woman Sephiria knew he was slacking off, she would surely be furious with him.

Speaking of Sephiria, Roland realized he had been away from Planet Vegeta for nearly nine months. He wondered how she was doing—according to the plot, Planet Vegeta would be destroyed in another three months.

That woman was incredibly stubborn; she might actually obey orders and return to Planet Vegeta like a good soldier.

In truth, Roland felt little sense of belonging to Planet Vegeta or the Saiyans. He was a lone wolf with no one to worry about; whether Planet Vegeta was destroyed or not was none of his concern. However, he felt a lingering reluctance to see that cold woman Sephiria throw her life away, perhaps due to the few months they had spent together.

Forget it, I'll find a way to save her when the time comes. She is my sister, after all.

If I want to save her, I need to hone my skills. I can't have Sephiria mocking me for being overconfident. With this in mind, Roland trained even more diligently.

Roland's current combat power was around 460. It had increased by a few points over the last few days, nearing 470, but it was still far behind an elite warrior like Sephiria. When he first met her, she already had a combat power of over 4,200, and she was surely even stronger now.

Sometimes, Roland truly envied Sephiria's talent.

At night, after a bath, Roland climbed into bed to rest, watching a boring program on TV while eating fruit from the refrigerator.

The show was truly dull, and before long, he turned off the TV and prepared to sleep.

The night was deep and quiet, the stars brilliant. Soft moonlight spilled through the glass window, casting a delicate, translucent glow like fine gauze. The chirping of frogs and the buzzing of insects echoed in his ears—a classic pastoral night scene.

Bang! Bang-bang!!

A rhythmic knocking sounded at the door.

Roland frowned and rolled over, but the knocking grew louder, making it impossible to sleep.

Is it some wild beast out here in the middle of nowhere? Hmph, I'll catch it for breakfast tomorrow! Irritated, he climbed out of bed and threw on his pajamas to answer the door.

"What's all the noise? Do you want to be eaten?"

He opened the door, but instead of a beast, he was met by a beautiful girl with long golden hair. She was sixteen or seventeen, elegant and graceful, with a lovely face and a pair of crystal-clear, captivating eyes.

"Ah, I'm sorry, little brother. Did I wake you? I lost my Hoi-Poi Capsule—could I possibly stay the night?"

A woman.

A scam, or a setup?

Roland watched the girl calmly. After confirming she was alone, he stepped aside to let her in.

The blonde girl quickly thanked him and walked straight inside, never once considering that he might have ill intentions.

"Are you all alone here, little brother? That's so dangerous! Where is your family?"

Once inside, the blonde girl began chattering away.

Roland took the opportunity to size her up. She had long, beautiful hair reaching her waist, wore a wide, soft hat, and carried a light purple backpack. Her tight, bright red dress perfectly accentuated her soft, slender, yet exquisitely delicate figure.

Perhaps due to her long journey, her clothes were stained with dust, making her look a bit disheveled.

Judging by the pearl necklace around her neck, she was clearly from a wealthy or noble background—a true heiress.

"I live alone."

"You're truly amazing," the girl said with admiration. "By the way, do you have a bathroom? I'd like to take a shower."

"..." Roland was speechless. Was the culture of the Dragon Ball world really this naive? In the middle of the night, a girl would just walk into a stranger's room? And so casually ask to bathe?

It was fortunate she had run into him. He pointed expressionlessly toward the room by the hallway. "It's over there. The hot water is already ready."

"Oh, that's wonderful! Big sister is going to take a shower first." With that, the girl placed her backpack and hat on the table and headed toward the bathroom in high spirits. Soon, the sound of splashing water drifted out.

Does she really think this is her own home?

Roland was certain this girl wasn't a scammer; she was simply missing a few screws.

What's in her bag? Feeling a spark of curiosity, Roland opened the purple backpack on the table. It didn't contain many personal items; instead, there was a miniature laptop and several booklets filled with writing.

Roland picked up a booklet and took a look, only to realize he couldn't read the language of this Earth.